Riders QB Brandon Bridge gets it

No, this isn’t a piece about how the Riders should give Brandon Bridge the keys and let him actually be the starting quarterback for this team until Zach Collaros returns from injury. (Even though that should happen, but that’s another story.)

I want to write about Brandon Bridge the person.

It stems from a great story reported by Cami Kepke of Global Regina. As it details, the Kuntz family was celebrating the return of a family member at a local chain restaurant from a trip abroad when Bridge walked in. Obviously, everyone noticed and the kids at the table eventually mustered up the courage to ask for an autograph. Grandma got to chat with Bridge, his girlfriend and offensive lineman Josiah St. John, who were ordering take out. It’s such a CFL story.

This would have been enough to make most fans night. Expect, there was more. Bridge also picked up the tab for the party of nearly 30 people.

By CFL and non-sports world standards, Bridge makes pretty decent money, but it’s not much compared to the rest of the pro-sports world. No one would have ever expected Bridge to open his wallet for a table for two that he wasn’t sitting at, let alone such a large party. But he did it.

What this tells us is that Bridge gets it. He sees himself as more than just someone who plays football in this province.

Ever since he’s arrived in Saskatchewan he’s done all of the little things right. He’s a prototypical CFLer who understands the importance of fans. He’s always made himself available to Rider Nation and the fans have repaid him in spades by making him one of the more popular players in the Chris Jones era.

Really, this shouldn’t be all that surprising. Bridge has always believed he’s a part of something bigger. Last season when he routinely came off the bench to replace Kevin Glenn, as the spotlight found it’s way to Bridge, he quickly turned it to Canadian quarterbacks counting toward the ratio. Bridge always talked big picture, he wants to set up the next generation of potential Canadian quarterbacks for success.

These are just the stories we’ve heard about too.

No matter what happens on the field for Bridge during the rest of his time in Saskatchewan and the CFL, there’s no question that his impact will be felt.

Even if the rules for Canadian quarterbacks don’t change, at the very least, he made a family’s night and that’s awesome.

“It’s all about marketing . . .” What a cynical response from Just Saying. Did Bridge’s agent orchestrate this good deed, then arrange for reporters and cameras to be there and record the stunt for a public relations advantage? Doesn’t appear so.
Hard as it is for some to believe, there are people out there who don’t always buy into the what’s-in-it-for-me angle. They get a kick from being spontaneously generous to others, paying it forward. Are you able to wrap your head around that concept?

Again, I don’t why this is being treated as a philanthropic endeavor.
This was opportunistic and brings praise when none is really deserved. Call it “nice” if you want, but this is a well to do family, easily able to pay for this dinner. In my experience, Grandpa was probably paying the bill.
Sharing niceties with the family is all that should have occurred. This was inappropriate and family may feel somewhat uncomfortable with this. I know I would if Bo Levi Mitchell or any stranger for that matter, was suddenly paying for my meal.
The movie ticket controversy with Duron Carter was bad too, although those people at least showed up willingly for the freebie.
I hope revenue Canada is watching in case the riders organization is “reimbursing” this philanthropy.

Next time, I’d encourage Brandon to round up some players and take out a group of disadvantaged families for meals or volunteer at the local soup kitchen.

Fair point,,,,but there are differences.
First off; I’m not a high profile person, who plays for the most popular business in the province. Second; I was inviting someone out for a meal, not snatching the bill of a stranger.

Differences? Bridge bought this family a meal out of the goodness of his heart. You, on the other hand, made a creepy offer to buy a stranger supper, 4 drinks, and game tickets for god-knows-what in return. And you say you would feel uncomfortable if Bo bought you dinner! Time for you to find a new site to wreck.

Further, what kind of precedence does this set?
If a rider player enters a restaurant is he now expected to pay for the house? Next year, should you forward on your property tax bill to Charleston Hughes?
Should rider players throw 20’s into the crowd after every game?

if it was bo levis michelle you would have been “oh what a great deed” trust me everyone stampeding tries to set up meetings with people in here, for example “meet me at tbe bar in an hour” then he doesnt show like the coward he is….need we say more about many handles

Inappropriate? How do you come up with this? Bridge bought a family their dinner. That’s it, very simple. None of them care what you think. Don’t make it into something it isn’t. No one called it an act of charity or anything other than a nice gesture.

You’re such a classless act that in an earlier lost your stated “in my experience grandma would be paying the bill”. Really? You’d go out for a family meal and let your grandma pay the bill?

The only thing I agree with Joel about is that Bridge gets it. Jerry, you do not.

I have been out for large family dinners a few times and my Grandparents generously paid the bill, it was appreciated (and quite frankly, they could well afford it). We didn’t have to fawn over then either!

There is a famous poet and humanitarian name Maya Angelou who once said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Clearly Bridge didn’t wake up that morning with the intention of buying a meal for a family. But he was made to feel a certain way when this family fawned over him. This feeling compelled him to take this action and it’s not right.
When athletes start giving money to fans based on a certain level of deification, we are completely destroying ourselves as a society.

Not sure how someone takes a negative from a story like that. Team loyalty aside any fan appreciation like this should be applauded. Especially in the CFL players need strong fan support and things like this will have a payoff in many ways. Not an act to take shots at in my opinion.

Yes, fan appreciation is a good thing! Teams hold events for that.
Calgary, for example, holds Fan fest a week or 2 before camp starts, there are giveaways, free food, activities, a change for players and fans in intermingle and thank each other.
They also have a fan appreciation game, coincidental that is next Saturday!

Players can also give back by doing charitable things, that make the community, and society, better as a whole.

Quit contradicting, fool. You say Carter inviting people to movies is wrong, like you posted above. Yet you invite people out and offer free coffee and lunch and tickets to games. Difference, no one cares to share a table or seat by you. Out in the world people do these random acts of kindness all the time. In your world, greed and selfishness rule.

I guarantee if Bo and Singleton saw this fool posting jibberish, especially an act of kindness, they would call him a loser. Hey scrub, Bo thinks you’re a tool.
I heard this family is paying it forward. Something this world needs. Not negative rejects like this terrorist.

I’ve paid for strangers meals in the past, No real reason needed. Perhaps they reminded me of my grandparents, grandchildren or just because.
I guess I must be some kind of crazy person. Unlike somebody who desperately offers to buy total strangers coffee, meals, tickets… Total strangers???? I mean people you insult, argue, troll, annoy. hourly, daily weekly, monthly & yearly…… sounds like someone wants to buy a friend….. maybe change your attitude!!

Did the people who remind you of your grandparents, grandchildren or just because, come up to you and fawn at you first? Were they fans of yours?
Cut the insults, you speak of the virtues of these random acts of kindness, yet any gesture I make is oout of craziness………………some humanitarian you are.

You want insults to stop. You start every damn insult in a demeaning way to the Riders, players, staff and people of Saskatchewan.
Normal people can make trash talk and be respectful and carry on a conversation. You take it to a level of insoletness.
You do realize not one person here likes or respects you. Drew and Justin included.
When you are banned and gone, every article we talk about pertains to the subject. Replies are respectful. The site is so much better. You are a POS.
Why on God’s earth does my teenage daughter have to die and a loser like you still breathe our air? You better stop this crap now and learn how to socialize like a normal person.

Let Brandon Bridge find his legs. He will hit his stride at some point. Support him as he grows as a quarterback. Hopefully the coaches design plays that are suited to his natural talent. He will be fine. So please support him.
Be patient, be a true Rider fan. Not a band wagon fan.

This is a good gesture and brings the league into a positive light.
I remember back in 2003-2004, I was at a restaurant in Calvary with some friends. We sat by some Stampeders players and talked for a bit and our tab was covered. We didn’t ask for it, and we could afford it.
This was before social media and before it was picked up by the media outlets. It’s just appreciated and we paid it forward by donating our bill amount to a local charity.
The sport needs these kinds of after stories with guys like Brandon Browner, and LeSean McCoy bringing their antics being front and centre.

Well one time I was in Regina. I was broken down on the side of the road. A large SUV pulled up. Out came a group of rider players to help, or so I though. They said they’d help if I gave them each $100.00. I didn’t have that much. I told them I was surprised by their actions; as rider fans always speak so highly of their players. They said, they only do things if they are paid.
I couldn’t believe it!

OMG people!!!
random acts like buying peoples coffee in Tim Horton’s line. Is not the same thing.
If Bridge, randomly bought this family dinner anonymously fine. But this act only occurred after this family approached Bridge.
That’s not a random act of kindness

It’s these types of stories that continue to make the Riders even more loved in this province. Riders rule, we are community owned and act like such. If the other teams could experience the league would be that much stronger.

I admire that aspect of the Riders Nation. IMO most, if not all of the Alouettes problems stem, originally, from the Wetenhall’s incompetence as owners. At the end of a losing season, 2 or 3 years ago, ownership was insisting that Popp as GM and HC, and Calvillo as OC was the way forward for our team. In polls on the Gazette and RDS, 70%-80% of fans were firmly against the idea. Ownership’s answer: who cares. The team belongs to US.

“Owners” of any franchise are merely renters. It is the CITY and the fans who ultimately have the final say. I’m not sure what “community ownership” might look like in Montreal. But it would definitely be more responsive to the opinions to the REAL owners of any team: the fans.

Glenn Suitor once told TSN; If you were out for dinner anytime after your last game and you had lost, or if you weren’t playing well, you would get harassed. People would come up to him and say things like; “What are you doing here? you should be working out, watching film, or practicing drills”
I guess fans have softened, that’s a good thing.

Red, there’s an article on this site about a serious problem in the league – head shots – and the intentional shot Gable took from Wynn. There was not one asinine comment from you, and it was a distinct pleasure to read the good comments and opinions stated from others. And there is not one person who visits this site that does not know that if that story involved a Roughrider, that you would be spreading your hate-filled nonsense and totally destroying the content of that article. You are full of hate, and you, in return, are hated. Then you have the unabashed gall to ask for love. Well, Red, go love yourself, if you know what I mean…….

Sometimes the process of loving is impeded by people who twist things around, taking a simple act of charity and attributing sinister motives, derived from a distorted and sickened soul. Kind of hard to “love” under such conditions.

Good story, Joel. I actually heard about this a few nights ago but never thought it would make 3downnation. Bridge certainly appears to be a great human being. I only wish Jones would show some confidence in Bridge. But Chris Jones certainly goes with the unorthodox approach when it comes to Duron Carter playing on defense, rotating quarterbacks constantly, use of the defensive line, constantly staying with a vastly inferior offensive line, the running back position, etc. I hope coach wakes up soon.

EXACTLY!
Yes I know you or rider nation would never give merit to a good deed I would do!
You are proving that the individual doing the deed is what will determine the merit for riders fans.
Bridge is still in rider fans good books, therefore what he did was AMAZING!

If I came on here and praised the riders instead of giving an honest (and fair) opinion, I would be showered with accolades for the smallest of good deeds.
Either way you still know nothing about me.
Vert shallow